Hunting garment for controlling odors

ABSTRACT

A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a garment for controlling odors and, more specifically, to a hunting garment for both reducing and masking body odors or other scents emitted by hunters. In a preferred embodiment, the garment is an undergarment shaped to fit around the pelvic region of a person wearing the garment, similar to boxer shorts or briefs. The undergarment is comprised of constricting elements around the waist and legs to create a barrier to air flow through the openings for the waist and legs. The undergarment further comprises odor control areas located at the front and rear areas of the garment. The odor control areas contain an amount of an odor-reducing agent for adsorbing odors emanating from the body of the hunter. The undergarment further comprises a masking scent incorporated into the fabric of the garment in order to mask any odors that may escape into the surrounding environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers generally to a garment for controlling odors and, more specifically, to a hunting garment for both reducing and masking body odors or other scents emitted by hunters.

BACKGROUND

All human beings emit various types of odors. Some human odors are emitted directly from the skin, such as odors found in perspiration and oil on a person's skin. Some odors are the result of various types of personal hygiene products, such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, cologne, perfume, etc. Other odors may come from a person's clothing, which absorbs odors and then releases those odors slowly over time.

For hunters or any other person wishing to approach animals in the wild, these odors are a particular problem. Many wild animals that are hunted have an exceptional sense of smell and can detect unfamiliar odors from a great distance. This ability may result in an animal being alerted to a hunter's presence at a distance too far away for the hunter to see the animal.

One type of odor that is particularly problematic for hunters is human sweat and other types of naturally occurring body odors. Hunters typically wear camouflage clothing covering most of their body in order to avoid being seen by animals. Wearing a great deal of clothing unavoidably causes a person to sweat. Even in winter when temperatures are cold, hunters need to wear very warm clothing, often in layers, which also cause odors due to sweat. Thus, the problem of odors emanating from a hunter cannot be avoided simply by using scent-free personal hygiene products and scent-free laundry detergent.

Many attempts have been made to eliminate or reduce such odors emanating from hunters. Examples include different types of clothing that are treated with various types of odor-reducing agents. Other examples include odor-reducing clothing having substances that reduce odors incorporated into the clothing. However, such garments are often either very expensive or not very effective in reducing odors. In addition, the effectiveness of such garments diminishes over time as a hunter uses the garment throughout the hunting season.

Other attempts to control odors unfamiliar to wildlife include various types of scents, such as deer lure, that are designed to attract particular types of wild animals such as deer. However, it is undesirable to incorporate such substances into clothing due to the often pungent nature of the scent, which may be provided by natural substances such as deer urine.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a relatively inexpensive, reusable garment that incorporates a mechanism for both reducing and masking human odors, particularly odors caused by human sweat, thus allowing a hunter to come within close proximity of wild game.

SUMMARY

A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed generally to a garment for controlling odors and, more specifically, to a hunting garment for both reducing and masking body odors or other scents emitted by hunters. The garment is designed to allow hunters to approach animals in the wild without alerting the animals to the hunter's presence through the animal's sense of smell. The garment is particularly effective in reducing human odors resulting from sweat. The design of the garment focuses on reducing odors emanating from the pelvic area. An alternative embodiment of the invention focuses on reducing odors emanating from the armpits. Each of these areas of the body produces strong odors due to sweat.

In a preferred embodiment, the hunting garment comprises an undergarment that is worn beneath the hunter's typical hunting clothing. In a preferred embodiment, the undergarment is disposable, though it may be reused several times before being disposed of A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an undergarment used for covering the pelvic area, similar to underwear such as boxer shorts or briefs. An alternative embodiment comprises an undergarment used for covering the torso of the person wearing the garment, similar to an undershirt. Yet another alternative embodiment comprises a single garment used to cover both the torso and the pelvic areas.

The undergarment is comprised of one or more constricting elements located around the waist and legs of the person wearing the garment. An alternative embodiment comprising an undershirt also includes constricting elements located around the arms of the person wearing the garment. The constricting elements may be comprised of an elastic band incorporated into the garment, resealable tape, or any other mechanism for tightening the garment around the waist, legs, or arms. The constricting elements reduce the flow of air from the area beneath the garment to the surrounding environment, thereby reducing the amount of odors that escape into the surrounding environment.

The undergarment is also comprised of at least one odor control area. In a preferred embodiment, the odor control area comprises a pocket attached to the interior of the garment. In an alternative embodiment, the pocket may be attached to the outside of the garment. The inside of the pocket contains an odor-reducing agent such as activated carbon, which is capable of adsorbing odors emanating from the body. The odor control areas are positioned inside the garment to maximize the reduction of odors due to sweat. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, odor control areas are positioned near both the front and rear areas of the pelvic region. In an alternative embodiment comprising an undershirt, odor control areas are positioned near each armpit.

A preferred embodiment of the undergarment further comprises a masking scent incorporated into the garment. The masking scent is effective in covering any remaining odors that may escape into the surrounding environment. In a preferred embodiment, the masking scent is concentrated in the constricting elements of the garment. Thus, the masking scent will cover any odors that may escape from beneath the undergarment around the constricting elements. The masking scent is preferably the scent of pine.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a garment for reducing human odors such that hunters may approach animals in the wild without being detected. Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment effective for reducing sweat odors or other body odors emanating from the areas of the body most likely to produce strong odors due to sweat or other natural body odors. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a garment for masking any human odors that may escape into the surrounding environment. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide an odor-reducing undergarment that is disposable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an apparatus embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an apparatus embodying features of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features, including method steps, of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with/or in the context of other particular aspects of the embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components.

As used herein, the terms “pelvic area” or “pelvic region” mean both the front and rear areas of the human body below the waist and above the thigh of the person wearing a garment as disclosed herein.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-2 illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed generally to a garment for reducing and masking odors released from a human body. The garment is particularly useful to hunters. The garment comprises an odor-reducing agent that prevents the release of at least a portion of odors, particularly odors resulting from sweat, from the hunter's body that may alert wild animals to the presence of the hunter. In a preferred embodiment, the odor-reducing agent is comprised of activated carbon. The garment also comprises a masking scent that covers any odors from the hunter's body that may escape from beneath the garment into the surrounding environment.

In a preferred embodiment, the garment comprises an undergarment that is worn beneath the hunter's typical outer garments used for hunting. Thus the garment comes into direct contact with the skin of the person wearing the garment and is the first layer of clothing to come into contact with any odor-producing molecules emanating from the skin.

In another preferred embodiment, the garment comprises an undergarment adapted for use in covering the pelvic region of the person wearing the garment. This embodiment may include an undergarment similar to boxer shorts, briefs, or any other type of undergarment designed to cover the pelvic region of a person. The garment covers the pelvic region, the waist region, and the upper portions of the legs of the person wearing the garment. In a preferred embodiment, the undergarment extends downward to approximately the midpoint of the thigh of the person wearing the garment.

The undergarment comprises at least one constricting element 10 and preferably multiple constricting elements. In a preferred embodiment, there are three constricting elements 10 located around the waist and each of the legs, respectively, of the person wearing the garment. The constricting elements allow the person wearing the garment to tighten the fit of the garment around the waist and each of the legs. By tightening the fit of the garment in these specific areas, the constricting elements 10 form a barrier to reduce the flow of air from the area inside the garment to the environment surrounding the outside of the garment, thereby reducing odors emanating from sweat or other body odors released from the area of the skin that is covered by the garment. By locating the constricting elements 10 around the waist and each of the legs, the constricting elements form a barrier against the flow of air through each of the openings in the garment through which air may easily escape from the pelvic region. Such a configuration allows the undergarment to substantially and effectively reduce the odors emanating from the pelvic region to a level whereby wild animals are unlikely to detect the presence of a hunter due to odors emanating from the pelvic region of the hunter.

In a preferred embodiment, the constricting elements 10 are each comprised of an elastic band 12 incorporated into the garment (show in FIGS. 1-2 around the waist only). The elastic bands 12 of each constricting element 10 allow the person wearing the garment to stretch out the constricting elements 10 when putting on the garment. The bands 12 then automatically contract into a tightened position around the waist and each of the legs to form an effective barrier to air flow.

In a preferred embodiment, the constricting elements 10 are also each comprised of adjustable strips of resealable tape 14 that allow the user to manually tighten the strips 14 around the waist and each of the legs. The tape 14 is attached to the garment and is resealable. Thus, each strip of tape 14 has an adhesive material on one side and can be sealed or attached to a corresponding strip of non-adhesive material attached to the garment. Because the tape 14 is resealable, it can be easily removed and resealed to the corresponding strip. The resealable tape 14 gives the person wearing the garment an additional option for adjusting the tightness of the fit around the waist and legs, thereby creating a more effective barrier to air flow. In an alternative embodiment, the constricting elements 10 are comprised of drawstrings incorporated into the garment, which also allow the person wearing the garment to manually tighten the fit of the garment around the waist and each of the legs.

Although the most preferred embodiment of the constricting elements 10 is comprised of a combination of elastic bands 12 and resealable tape 14, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that the constricting elements 10 may be comprised of any mechanism for sealing the garment against the skin of the person wearing the garment or for creating any type of barrier or restriction to air flow through the waist and leg openings of the garment, including, but not limited to, the different types of constricting elements described above, individually or in combination, and still fall within the scope of the invention described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that the constricting elements of any individual garment may be comprised of any combination of different types of constricting elements, including, but not limited to, those types of constricting elements described above. For instance, in one embodiment, the constricting element 10 around the waist may comprise an elastic band 12 only. In the same embodiment, the constricting elements around each of the legs may comprise drawstrings or resealable tape 14.

The undergarment will be available in various sizes to fit various body sizes of individuals wearing the garment. The constricting elements 10 will be sized according to the size of the garment. When the constricting elements 10 are in a tightened position, the elements will form an effective barrier to odors. In the preferred embodiment comprising elastic bands 12, when the elastic bands 12 are in a tightened position around the waist and/or legs, the bands 12 will be sized such that the bands 12 will not be so tight as to cause discomfort to a person wearing the garment after several hours of use. Other embodiments allow the person wearing the garment to manually adjust the tightness of the fit of the garment to a level which provides an effective barrier to odors while still being comfortable to the person wearing the garment.

In a preferred embodiment, the undergarment further comprises at least one odor control area and preferably two odor control areas 16, 18. One odor control area 16 is located on the front side of the undergarment in close proximity to the groin of the person wearing the garment. Another odor control area 18 is located on the rear side of the undergarment in close proximity to the anus of the person wearing the garment. The odor control areas 16, 18 are designed to be as effective as possible in reducing odors by being positioned in close proximity to the areas from which the strongest odors are emitted from the pelvic region.

Each odor control area 16, 18 comprises a pocket attached to the interior of the undergarment. In an alternative embodiment, the pocket may be attached to the exterior of the garment. Each pocket contains a quantity of an odor-reducing agent that is capable of adsorbing various odors that emanate from a human body. In one embodiment, the garment is constructed such that the pocket is permanently closed and the odor-reducing agent is enclosed within the closed pocket during the manufacturing of the garment.

In another embodiment, the garment is constructed such that the pocket can be opened and closed by a zipper, buttons, or any other means that allows the user of the garment to easily open and close the pocket. In this embodiment, the odor-reducing agent is enclosed within a sealed pouch which can be easily inserted into the pocket and removed from the pocket. Additional pouches of odor-reducing agent may be sold separately from the garment and replaced as needed. In this embodiment, the garment may be reused as many times as desired by simply replacing the used pouches containing the odor-reducing agent.

The pouches that house the odor-reducing agent are comprised of a breathable, air-permeable fabric. In addition, the pockets attached to the garment are also comprised of a breathable, air-permeable fabric. Such a fabric allows both air and moisture vapor to pass through the fabric, thereby allowing odor-producing molecules to be adsorbed by the odor-reducing agent located inside the pocket.

In a preferred embodiment, the odor-reducing agent comprises activated carbon. Activated carbon, also referred to as activated charcoal, is a type of carbon processed to have a large ratio of surface area to mass. The large surface area is a result of the carbon having a high number of pores, which allows the activated carbon to adsorb a large number of odor-producing molecules. In a preferred embodiment, the activated carbon is in the form of carbon granules and has a surface area of at least 500 m² per gram of activated carbon. Each pouch of activated carbon preferably contains an amount of carbon in the range of about ______ grams per pouch.

After using the garment, pouches of activated carbon can be reactivated for reuse by washing and drying the pouches in a standard household washer and dryer. Washing and drying the pouches will remove at least a portion of the odor-producing molecules from the surface of the activated carbon, thereby allowing the activated carbon to adsorb more odor-producing molecules. Over time, however, the effectiveness of the activated carbon may decrease, at which time the pouch can be replaced with a new pouch. In the embodiment of the present invention in which the pocket containing the odor-reducing agent is permanently closed, the activated carbon can be reactivated by washing and drying the entire garment, including the activated carbon enclosed within the pocket of the garment.

In alternative embodiments, the odor-reducing agent may be comprised of baking soda, an inorganic odor-reducing compound, or any other suitable solid material that is capable of adsorbing or neutralizing odor-producing molecules.

The garment further comprises at least one masking scent incorporated into the fabric comprising the body 20 of the garment. The masking scent covers any small amounts of odors that may escape from the garment into the surrounding environment such that wild animals nearby will smell the masking scent instead of the human odors. In a preferred embodiment, the masking scent is comprised of the scent of pine. However, the masking scent may be comprised of any scent or combination of scents familiar to animals in a particular habitat, thereby allowing the hunter to remain undetected. Thus, the best choice of masking scent will depend on the location in which the hunter is using the garment and the types of naturally-occurring scents found in that location. Accordingly, individual garments may be sold having a variety of options for different masking scents depending on the location in which the garment will be used.

The masking scent will be impregnated in the fabric of the garment throughout the entire body 20 of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, however, the masking scent will be concentrated in the areas of the garment around the constricting elements 10, i.e., the areas around the waist and each of the legs. The openings in the garment for the waist and each of the legs are the areas where any human odors are most likely to escape from beneath the garment to the surrounding environment. Although the odor control areas 16, 18, in combination with the constricting elements 10, will prevent the release of most odors to the surrounding environment, a small amount of odor-producing molecules may escape through the areas around the waist and legs. The concentration of a masking scent in these locations will prevent wildlife from detecting any human odors, thereby allowing the hunter to approach the wildlife without being detected.

In a preferred embodiment, the fabric comprising the body 20 of the garment is comprised of cotton. In another preferred embodiment, the fabric comprising the body 20 of the garment is comprised of two layers. The inner layer is comprised of either cotton or a non-woven polypropylene fabric. The outer layer is comprised of polyethylene, a composite of polyethylene film and a non-woven polypropylene fabric, or a light plastic material similar to polyethylene. The inner layer comes into direct contact with the skin of the pelvic region and provides a soft, comfortable feel for the person wearing the garment. The outer layer of the garment is a breathable material, yet provides a barrier to at least a portion of the odors emanating from the skin of the person wearing the garment. Any small amount of odors that may escape through the outer layer of the garment will be masked by the masking scent impregnated throughout the fabric comprising the body 20 of the garment. However, the majority of the odor-producing molecules emanating from the skin of the pelvic region will be adsorbed by the odor-reducing agent located in the odor control areas 16, 18 of the garment.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the garment described herein comprises a camouflage color pattern. Although the garment is intended to be worn as an undergarment in its preferred embodiment, a camouflage pattern is desirable because it is visually appealing to hunters, who will likely be the primary users of the garment.

In an alternative embodiment, the garment of the present invention may also comprise a shirt. The shirt is preferably worn as an undershirt beneath a hunter's typical hunting clothing. The shirt is designed to reduce odors emanating from the torso of the person wearing the garment and, in particular, the person's armpits, which emit strong odors resulting from sweat. This embodiment of the invention is very similar to the embodiment comprising the undergarment used for covering the pelvic region, but has been adapted for use in covering the torso. In this embodiment, the garment is adapted to cover both the front and rear areas of the torso, including the waist area, and at least an upper portion of the arms of the person wearing the garment.

In a preferred embodiment, the undershirt is also comprised of constricting elements, which are located around the waist and around each of the arms. In a preferred embodiment, the constricting elements are comprised of elastic bands, but may also be comprised resealable tape or any other mechanism for creating any type of barrier or restriction to air flow through the waist and arm openings of the garment and still fall within the scope of the invention as described herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the undershirt also comprises at least one odor control area and preferably two odor control areas, one located in close proximity to each armpit of the person wearing the garment. In this embodiment, the odor control areas are designed to be as effective as possible in reducing odors by being positioned in close proximity to each of the user's armpits, which emit strong odors due to sweat. The odor control areas are each comprised of a pocket (either permanently sealed or capable of being opened and closed) attached to the garment near each armpit. The pockets may be attached to either the interior or the exterior of the garment. The odor control areas contain a quantity of an odor-reducing agent. In a preferred embodiment, the odor-reducing agent is comprised of activated carbon, but may be comprised of any other suitable solid material that is capable of reducing human odors.

The undershirt is further comprised of a masking scent. In a preferred embodiment, the masking scent comprises the scent of pine, but may also be comprised of any scent that would be familiar to wild animals present in the location where the garment is being used. In another preferred embodiment, the masking scent is concentrated in the areas around the constricting elements. The concentration of masking scent in the constricting elements around each of the arms is particularly effective in covering odors emanating from the armpits of the hunter.

The undershirt described herein may be used in combination with the undergarment covering the pelvic region in order to increase the probability that a hunter will not be detected by wild animals. In an alternative embodiment, the undershirt and the pelvic undergarment may be combined into single undergarment having constricting elements around each of the arms and each of the legs. In this embodiment, the garment will have four odor control areas. The odor control areas are located in close proximity to the groin of the person wearing the garment, in close proximity to the anus, and in close proximity to each of the armpits, respectively. This embodiment is also comprised of a zipper in the front of the garment to allow the user to easily put on and take off the one-piece garment.

It is understood that versions of the invention may come in different forms and embodiments. Additionally, it is understood that one of skill in the art would appreciate these various forms and embodiments as falling within the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. 

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. An article of clothing comprising: a. at least one constricting element located around at least one of the legs, arms, or waist of the person wearing said article of clothing, the constricting element being capable of forming a barrier to at least partially prevent the release of human odors emanating from the torso or the pelvic region of the person wearing said article of clothing; b. at least one odor control area comprising a pocket attached to said article of clothing, said pocket containing an odor-reducing agent capable of adsorbing odors emanating from the torso or the pelvic region of the person wearing said article of clothing; and, c. at least one masking scent incorporated into said article of clothing, the masking scent capable of being released into the environment surrounding the person wearing said article of clothing.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is an undergarment.
 3. The undergarment of claim 2, wherein the undergarment is shaped such that the undergarment covers the torso of the person wearing the undergarment.
 4. The undergarment of claim 2, wherein the undergarment is shaped such that the undergarment covers the pelvic region of the person wearing the undergarment.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is disposable.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the constricting element comprises an elastic band incorporated into said article of clothing.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the constricting element comprises a strip of resealable tape.
 8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the pocket is located in close proximity to at least one armpit of the person wearing said article of clothing.
 9. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the pocket is located in close proximity to the groin of the person wearing said article of clothing.
 10. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the pocket is located in close proximity to the anus of the person wearing said article of clothing.
 11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the odor-reducing agent is activated charcoal.
 12. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the masking scent is concentrated in the at least one constricting element of the article of clothing.
 13. An undergarment shaped to cover the pelvic region of a person wearing said undergarment, the undergarment comprising: a. at least one constricting element located around the legs or the waist of the person wearing said undergarment, the constricting element being capable of forming a barrier to at least partially prevent the release of human odors emanating from the pelvic region of the person wearing said undergarment; b. at least one odor control area comprising a pocket attached to the interior of said undergarment, said pocket containing an odor-reducing agent capable of adsorbing odors emanating from the pelvic region of the person wearing said undergarment; and, c. at least one masking scent incorporated into said undergarment, the masking scent capable of being released into the environment surrounding the person wearing said undergarment.
 14. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein undergarment is disposable.
 15. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the constricting element comprises an elastic band incorporated into said undergarment.
 16. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the constricting element comprises a strip of resealable tape.
 17. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the pocket is located in close proximity to the groin of the person wearing said undergarment.
 18. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the pocket is located in close proximity to the anus of the person wearing said undergarment.
 19. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the odor-reducing agent is activated charcoal.
 20. The undergarment of claim 13, wherein the masking scent is concentrated in the at least one constricting element of the undergarment. 